David Finds Out about Saul's Death
1 Saul was dead.
Meanwhile, David had defeated the Amalekites and returned to Ziklag. 2 Three days later, a soldier came from Saul's army. His clothes were torn, and dirt was on his head. He went to David and knelt down in front of him.
3 David asked, “Where did you come from?”
The man answered, “From Israel's army. I barely escaped with my life.”
4 “Who won the battle?” David asked.
The man said, “Our army turned and ran, but many were wounded and died. Even King Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
5 David asked, “How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?”
6 The young man replied:
I was on Mount Gilboa and saw King Saul leaning on his spear. The enemy's war chariots and cavalry were closing in on him. 7 When he turned around and saw me, he called me over. I went and asked what he wanted.
8 Saul asked me, “Who are you?”
“An Amalekite,” I answered.
9 Then he said, “Kill me! I'm dying, and I'm in terrible pain.”
10 So I killed him. I knew he was too badly wounded to live much longer. Then I took his crown and his arm-band, and I brought them to you, Your Majesty. Here they are.
11 At once, David and his soldiers tore their clothes in sorrow. 12 They cried all day long and would not eat anything. Everyone was sad because Saul, his son Jonathan, and many of the Lord's people had been killed in the battle.
13 David asked the young man, “Where is your home?”
The man replied, “My father is an Amalekite, but we live in Israel.”
14-16 David said to him, “Why weren't you afraid to kill the Lord's chosen king? And you even told what you did. It's your own fault that you're going to die!”
Then David told one of his soldiers, “Come here and kill this man!”
David Sings in Memory of Saul
17 David sang a song in memory of Saul and Jonathan, 18 and he ordered his men to teach the song to everyone in Judah. He called it “The Song of the Bow,” and it can be found in The Book of Jashar. This is the song:
19 Israel, your famous hero
lies dead on the hills,
and your mighty warriors
have fallen!
20 Don't tell it in Gath
or spread the news
on the streets of Ashkelon.
The godless Philistine women
will be happy
and jump for joy.
21 Don't let dew or rain fall
on the hills of Gilboa.
Don't let its fields
grow offerings for God.
There the warriors' shields
were smeared with mud,
and Saul's own shield
was left unpolished.
22 The arrows of Jonathan struck,
and warriors died.
The sword of Saul cut
the enemy apart.
23 It was easy to love Saul
and Jonathan.
Together in life,
together in death,
they were faster than eagles
and stronger than lions.
24 Women of Israel, cry for Saul.
He brought you fine red cloth
and jewelry made of gold.
25 Our warriors have fallen
in the heat of battle,
and Jonathan lies dead
on the hills of Gilboa.
26 Jonathan, I miss you most!
I loved you
like a brother.
You were truly loyal to me,
more faithful than a wife
to her husband.
27 Our warriors have fallen,
and their weapons
are destroyed.
David ma zuu ombuze yonḓiro ya Saul
1 Kombunda yonḓiro ya Saul, David tja za nokuhavera Ovaamalek wa yaruka kOsiklag, na kakara omayuva yevari ngo. 2 Meyuva oritjatatu kombunda yonḓiro ya Saul, pe ya omuzandu ngwa zire kotjimbumba tja Saul tjovita, ngwa ri nozombanda nḓa tauka, nehi motjiuru. Neye tje ya komurungu wa David, we ripeta na u onḓurumika mondjozikiro. 3 David we mu pura a tja: “Mo zu pi?”
Neye we mu zira nai: “Mba hene mozandanda zOvaisrael.”
4 David arire tje mu pura komurungu a tja: “Kwa tjitwa tjike? Arikana, ndji raera!”
Nomundu ngo arire tje mu ziri nai: “Otjimbumba tjetu tjovita tja taura motjirwa novengi vatjo va ṱu. Saul nomuzandu we Jonatan wina va ṱu.”
5 David otja pura komuzandu ngwa eta ombuze ndji, na tja ku ye: “Mo tjiwa vi kutja Saul nomuzandu we Jonatan wina va ṱu?”
6 Nomuzandu wa zira nai: “Ami mba ri kozondundu za Gilboa, nu mba muna Saul a yama kenga re, nu inga omatemba wovanavita novakavire ava ri pokumuvaza. 7 Neye wa taviza kongotwe, nu tje ndji muna, we ndji isana; nu ami e tja: ‘Owami ngwi.’ 8 Nu eye e ndji pura kutja owami aṋi. Nami mbe mu zira kutja owami Omuaamalek. 9 Tjazumba arire tja tja nai ku ami: ‘Indjo u ndji zepe, orondu ami mba tendwa tjinene; nungwari ingee mbi nomuinyo.’ 10 Ami otji mba ya ku ye ne mu zepa, tjinga ee tjiwa kutja kamaa hupu. Otji mba isa ko ekori rouhona kotjiuru tje nongoho pokuoko kwe; nu ovyo mbi, mbe vi eta kove, muhona wandje.”
11 David wa nyondorora ozombanda ze, novarumendu, mba ri pu ye, va tjita nao wina. 12 Nowo va toora oruhoze nave ritjaere kovikurya nga kongurova mena ra Saul nomuzandu we Jonatan na mena rotjiwaṋa tja Muhona tja Israel, orondu ovengi tjinga ava ṱa movita.
13 David arire tja pura komuzandu ngwa eta ombuze ndji na tja ku ye: “Mo zu pi?”
Neye we mu zira a tja: “Owami omuzandu womurumendu Omuaamalek, nu mba tura mehi roye.”
14 David wa pura nai ku ye: “Pe ya vi kutja ko tirire okuzepa ombara ya Muhona ondwirisiwa?” 15 David otja isana umwe womitanda vye na tja: “Ryama, u mu zepe!” Neye we mu zepa. 16 Nu David wa tja kOmuamalek ngwi: “Ombinḓu yoye ngai kare kotjiuru tjoye, orondu ove we rihongonona omuini notjinyo tjoye kutja wa zepa omutwirisiwa wa Muhona.”
Eimburiro ra David romutambo ku Saul na Jonatan
17 David otja imburira Saul nomuzandu we Jonatan eimburiro romutambo. 18 Neye wa rakiza kutja eimburiro ndi ri hongwe kOvajuda. Oro ra tjangwa mEmbo rozombanḓe.
19 “Ovawa ovamanise voye, Israel,
va ṱira kozondundu!
Ozombangaṋe za u!
20 Amu zuvarisa hi mOgat,
amu inganisa tjo momivanda vya Askelon
kutja ovasuko vOvafilisti ave ha yoroka,
nokutja ovasuko vovanavisenginina ave ha nyanda!
21 “Oweṋe, zondundu za Gilboa,
omueme nombura avi he ya ko ku eṋe,
ehi romakunino ari eta ko ovihape!
Koṋa ngo tjinga akwa imbirahirwa otuvao tozombangaṋe,
oruvao rwa Saul ngu hi nakuhuwa omaze rukwao.
22 Nokuhinombinḓu yovaṱi, nokuhinozonḓura
zozombangaṋe outa wa Jonatan kau kotoka;
nengaruvyo ra Saul kari kotoka nokuhiyapunda otjiṋa.
23 “Saul na Jonatan ovasuverwandu,
va kara noruwano momuinyo na monḓiro.
Va ri ovanatjikara pozonguvi,
novanamasa pozongeyama.
24 “Vasuko va Israel, ririreye Saul,
ngwe mu zarisa omarapi omaserandu pyu,
ngwa hareka omarapi weṋu noviwerawere vyongoldo.
25 “Ozombangaṋe za u movita!
Jonatan wa saravara mozondundu!
26 “Mba ṱoruhoze na ove, mukwetu Jonatan!
Ove wa ri omunanyuṋe ku ami;
orusuvero rwoye rwa ri oruhimise ku ami
okukapita orusuvero rovakazendu.
27 “Ozombangaṋe za u,
novirwise vyazo vya isiwa avi hi nombatero.”
